I boarded a Birmingham-Edinburgh Voyager earlier today. All the seat reservation screens were blank, no reservation slips at seats. The TM apologised for the 'technical problem' and advised passengers with seat reservations to find their booked seats and sit in them. He went on to say that people without seat reservations may have to move if they are in a reserved seat.
Now I understand the frustration of having a reservation only to find when you get on the train it has become a free for all. But is the TM right in advising people without reservations to move? Without the at-seat displays there is no way I can know whether a seat is reserved; that could make the difference between having a seat for my journey or being forced to give it up and stand because all the other seats have been filled by the time the person with the reservation has claimed their seat.
(As it happened, no one challenged me so I did stay seated throughout. It is the principle I am challenging.)
Now I understand the frustration of having a reservation only to find when you get on the train it has become a free for all. But is the TM right in advising people without reservations to move? Without the at-seat displays there is no way I can know whether a seat is reserved; that could make the difference between having a seat for my journey or being forced to give it up and stand because all the other seats have been filled by the time the person with the reservation has claimed their seat.
(As it happened, no one challenged me so I did stay seated throughout. It is the principle I am challenging.)